أشيبI grow gray ولمand have not أقضpaid الشبابyouth حقوقهits dues
أشيب ولم أقض الشباب حقوقه
ولمand has not يمضpassed منsince عهدthe days of الشبابyouth قديمa long time
ولم يمض من عهد الشباب قديم
I grow gray, though I have not paid youth its dues,
My hair grows gray but youth has not fulfilled its rights,
nor has much time passed since the days of youth.
Nor lingered long the era of my youth.
تفاريقscattered strands شيبgray hair فيamid السوادthe blackness لوامعٌgleaming
تفاريق شيب في السواد لوامعٌ
وماand what خيرgood ليلa night ليسthere is not فيهin it تجومstars (apparently intended: نجوم)
وما خير ليل ليس فيه تجوم
Scattered strands of gray gleam amid the black—
Gray hairs appearing here and there are flashing lights,
and what good is a night with no stars in it?
Good is no night where planets do not roam.